Too bad everyone doesn't believe this. It makes persevering a lot easier when we know it is according to His will for our lives.
Doesn't it ever occur to you to wonder why your church doesn't preach this truth? Maybe it's because this is one of the ways it keeps control over its adherents -- by making them fearful of losing God's abiding love.
Sort of like Lucy swiping the football in the Peanuts cartoon.
If Christ will lose none of His sheep, then it is only logical all His sheep will persevere to the end.
It is unfortunate that you do not see the circular argument you present... You tell us that those of the flock persevere - and I agree. Yet, what you don't see is WHO IS PART of this flock.
"I'm part of the flock"
"why"
"Because I'm of the elect and all the elect are part of the flock."
How do you know you are of the elect?
"Because I am part of the flock Can't you understand that???"
Oh boy... No. Does Jesus name you as part of the flock?
{said with a stamping of feet and jumping up and down}"But I'm part of the flock, so when the bible talks about the flock, Jesus is speaking about me personally."
"Naturally... It is good to know that you have told God that you are part of the flock. And here I thought God decided who was part of the flock.
You have no way of knowing that you will be part of that flock at the end, until you are judged accordingly. God judges ALL, and at that time, it will be obvious which side of the fence you belong. But until that time, all we can do is "know" today whether we are persevering. We do not know we will persevere 10 years from now. That is denying the possibility of falling away. People fall away, people who make the exact same claims that you do (I am part of the flock because I said so).
Persevere until the end. Do not presume.
Regards